Catheter for uniform delivery of medication

Abstract

The present invention provides a catheter for the delivery of fluid medication across an anatomical region. In accordance with one embodiment, the catheter comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of exit holes along an infusion section of the catheter, and an elongated flexible porous member residing within the tube and forming an annular space between the tube and the member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes a tube having a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of the tube. The exit holes may combine to form a flow-restricting orifice of the catheter. Advantageously, fluid within the catheter flows through all of the exit holes, resulting in uniform distribution of fluid within an anatomical region. In one particular embodiment, the catheter comprises a tube having elongated exit slots therein. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated tubular member made of a porous membrane. The porous membrane is configured so that a fluid introduced into an open end of the tubular member will flow through side walls of the tubular member at a substantially uniform rate along a length of the tubular member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated “weeping” tubular coil spring attached to an end of, or enclosed within, a tube. Fluid within the spring and greater than or equal to a threshold pressure advantageously flows radially outward between the spring coils. Advantageously, the fluid is dispensed substantially uniformly throughout a length of the spring.

1. A catheter for the delivery of a fluid to an anatomical region, comprising:
 an elongated, tubular catheter body having a closed distal end, a distal portion of said catheter body defining an infusion section of said catheter, said infusion section configured to permit fluid to pass through said catheter body; 
 a member having adjacent coils, wherein an outer surface of said adjacent coils, in a relaxed position of said member, are in contact with one another in at least a portion of said member, said member having a first end and a second end and being enclosed within a lumen of said catheter body and extending at least a length of said infusion section; and 
 wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said member is secured to said catheter body. 
 
   
   
     2. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein only one of said first end and said second end of said member is secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     3. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said infusion section of said catheter comprises a plurality of exit holes in said catheter body. 
   
   
     4. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said member has about 200 coils per inch of length. 
   
   
     5. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of an outer surface of said member contacts a portion of an inner surface of said catheter body. 
   
   
     6. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said member is secured to said catheter body with a U.V. adhesive. 
   
   
     7. A catheter for the uniform delivery of fluid throughout an anatomical region, comprising:
 an elongated tube having a closed distal end and a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of said tube, said exit holes provided along a length of said tube defining an infusion section of said catheter, said tube being sized to be inserted into an anatomical region; and 
 a member having adjacent coils, wherein an outer surface of said adjacent coils, in a relaxed position of said member, are in contact with one another in at least a portion of said member, said member having a first end and a second end and being enclosed within a lumen of said tube and extending at least a length of said infusion section, one of said first end and said second end being secured to said tube; 
 wherein said catheter is configured so that a fluid introduced into a proximal end of said tube will flow between said coils of said member and through said exit holes. 
 
   
   
     8. The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein said member has about 200 coils per inch of length. 
   
   
     9. The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of an outer surface of said member contacts a portion of an inner surface of said side wall of said tube. 
   
   
     10. The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein said member is secured to said tube with a U.V. adhesive. 
   
   
     11. A catheter for the delivery of a fluid to an anatomical region, comprising:
 an elongated, tubular catheter body having a closed distal end, a distal portion of said catheter body defining an infusion section of said catheter, said infusion section configured to permit fluid to pass through said catheter body; 
 a member comprising a plurality of coils adjacent to one another, wherein in a relaxed position of said member an outer surface of each of said coils contacting at least a portion of an outer surface of an adjacent one of said coils, said member having a first end and a second end and being enclosed within a lumen of said catheter body and extending at least a length of said infusion section; and 
 wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said member is secured to said catheter body. 
 
   
   
     12. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein only one of said first end and said second end of said member is secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     13. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein said infusion section of said catheter comprises a plurality of exit holes in said catheter body. 
   
   
     14. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein said member has about 200 coils per inch of length. 
   
   
     15. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of an outer surface of said member contacts a portion of an inner surface of said catheter body. 
   
   
     16. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein said member is secured to said catheter body with a U.V. adhesive. 
   
   
     17. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said adjacent coils in a section of said member between said first and second ends are not secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     18. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said member is stainless steel. 
   
   
     19. The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein said adjacent coils in a section of said member between said first and second ends are not secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     20. The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein said member is stainless steel. 
   
   
     21. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein said coils in a section of said member between said first and second ends are not secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     22. The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein said member is stainless steel. 
   
   
     23. A catheter, comprising:
 an elongated, tubular catheter body having a closed distal end, a distal portion of said catheter body defining an fluid passing section of said catheter, said fluid passing section configured to permit fluid to pass through said catheter body; 
 a member comprising a plurality of coils adjacent to one another, an outer surface of each of said coils contacting at least a portion of an outer surface of an adjacent one of said coils, said member having a first end and a second end and being enclosed within a lumen of said catheter body and extending at least a length of said fluid passing section; and 
 wherein at least a portion of said member is secured to said catheter body. 
 
   
   
     24. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein only one of said first end and said second end of said member is secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     25. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said fluid passing section of said catheter comprises a plurality of exit holes in said catheter body. 
   
   
     26. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said member has about 200 coils per inch of length. 
   
   
     27. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein a portion of an outer surface of said member contacts a portion of an inner surface of said catheter body. 
   
   
     28. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said member is secured to said catheter body with a U.V. adhesive. 
   
   
     29. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said coils in a section of said member between said first and second ends are not secured to said catheter body. 
   
   
     30. The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said member is stainless steel.